Portable Navigation Device

1. A personal navigation device (PND) comprising: a processor; a graphical display; memory including map data stored in the memory; user-input device; and signal reception device to receive one or more wireless signals by which a present location of the PND is determinable by the processor, in conjunction with user input, desired destination information is determinable by the processor, the processor being further capable of performing route calculation and subsequent navigation functions, wherein the location determination, route calculation and navigation functions are performed by software installed on the PND; and one or more connectors by which said PND is physically connectable to third party devices or systems, said PND being adapted to establish a communication, via said physical connection, with a vehicle controller area network and thus becoming a node on the vehicle controller area network and being capable of communicating with other nodes having functionality represented by one or more signals distributed around said controller area network and received by said PND, said PND further including a first software translation layer enabling the communication between PND and one or more nodes, and a second software routine layer including one or more routines specific to the functionality of one or more of said other nodes so as to effectively communicate therewith and utilize their functionality, wherein said one or more routines, depending on user profile information available within said PND, is capable of causing a change in the current state of one or more of the nodes on said vehicle controller area network or a vehicle subsystem controlled thereby.

2. A PND according to claim 1 , wherein one routine is specific to a hands free module (HFM) being a node on the vehicle controller area network, said routine effectively communicating with said HFM to both receive and act on signals representative of navigation-specific user spoken commands recognized and processed by said HFM, and to transmit audio data from said PND to said HFM.

3. A PND according to claim 2 wherein the audio data transmitted by the PND to the HFM are voice navigation instructions generated by the PND, and the HFM causes audible broadcast of such instructions by one or more in-vehicle speakers to which appropriate audio signals are deliverable by the HFM.

4. A PND according to claim 1 , wherein one routine is specific to an audio reproduction system being a node on the vehicle controller area network, said routine effectively communicating with said audio reproduction system to allow for the transmission of audio data from said PND thereto for audio playback therethrough.

5. A PND of claim 1 , wherein one routine is specific to a voice recognition engine being a node on the vehicle controller area network and capable of recognizing PND-specific verbal instructions and conversion thereof into signals distributed on said vehicle controller area network, said routine recognizing interpreting said signals as PND-specific instructions and causing an alteration in the current operation of said PND.

6. The portable navigation device of the claim 5 , wherein the routine is capable of interpreting signals representative of one or more of the following commands: start slideshow mode; change the current view to a navigation mode screen; mute voice guidance; unmute voice guidance; activate day mode; activate night mode; zoom in to a map; zoom out of a map; show pre-selected points of interest POIs; and hide POIs.

7. The PND of claim 1 , wherein one routine is specific to a video display device being a node on the vehicle controller area network, said routine enabling the streaming of video content extant within the memory of said PND.

8. The PND of claim 1 , wherein the user input device is embodied in the graphical display, which is a touch sensitive touch screen.

9. The portable navigation device of claim 8 , wherein the establishment of the communication with the vehicle controller area network or nodes thereon, and enablement of the one or more routines specific to those nodes is achieved by the user interacting with menu items shown on the touch screen.

10. A PND according to claim 1 , wherein a software routine within the PND receives signals from a management system being a node on the vehicle controller area network, said routine causing the periodic or snapshot storage of one or more parameters representative of at least one of vehicle operation and user control thereof.

11. A PND according to claim 10 wherein the management system is a vehicle engine management system and the one or more parameters stored by the routine are engine operating characteristics.

12. A PND according to claim 11 , wherein the routine stores data that uniquely identifies the vehicle, and optionally causes the wireless transmission of stored data for at least one of road pricing, toll road access, and congestion zone access.

13. A PND according claim 1 , wherein a routine is capable of upgrading the operating software of one of the nodes which together make up the controller area network.

14. A PND according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more routines utilizes the functionality of one or more of the nodes, and receives information therefrom, such being passed to the route calculation function of the PND to provide enhancement therefor.

15. The PND of claim 14 , wherein the information relates to one or more of: a service requirement of the vehicle, engine warning, engine diagnostic information, gyro/speed pulse information optionally used in a dead reckoning software routine provided as part of at least one of the route calculation and navigation functions of said PND relevant to a possible new destination, the outside air or road temperature, an indication that the vehicle has a major fault and a routine is provided within the device causes the user to be advised visibly and/or audibly that rerouting to a garage is appropriate, and an indication that the external temperature is below a defined threshold and wherein the PND includes a routine to cause one of (a) recalculation of an estimation of travel time on account of lower speed of travel, (b) recalculation of the route to avoid potentially icy roads, and (c) the wireless transmission of ambient temperature a remote server.

16. A PND according to claim 1 , wherein a routine is provided which interacts with the route calculation and navigation functions of the PND to determine when the PND is within a threshold distance of a home location, and wherein said routine communicates, over said wireless communication, with a remote control device being a node on said vehicle controller area network within the vehicle to cause operation thereof thereby issuing a wireless signal to appropriate equipment disposed at said home location to cause operation thereof.

17. A PND according to any preceding claim 1 , wherein a routine is provided which interacts with the route calculation and navigation functions of the PND and which additionally interacts with a device being a node on said vehicle controller area network, said device capable of connecting to the internet so as to retrieve information therefrom.

18. The portable navigation device of claim 17 , wherein the information obtained from the internet is traffic congestion information, said routine interacting with the route calculation and navigation functions to optionally cause route recalculation or alternate navigation.

19. A PND according to claim 1 , wherein a user profile routine is provided in the PND to interact with a module capable of storing one or more user-specific settings and being a node on the vehicle controller area network, the interaction being such that selection of a particular user profile stored in one of the PND and the vehicle user settings module causes one or more of the various settings stored in the profiles on both the PND and the user settings module to be applied.

20. A PND according to claim 19 , wherein the user settings module or user-specific settings therein includes one or more of: a seat position memory function, a biometric user identification function capable of identifying particular users, a key or key fob recognition module, a code entry module, a map color scheme setting, a particular navigation guidance voice setting, a particular welcome greeting setting, a particular set of user-defined favorite destinations.

21. The PND of claim 19 , wherein the last active user profile is automatically loaded by the device on start-up.